At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to deliver exceptional conference and event experiences.
- Company: Join Restaurant Associates, a leader in hospitality and event management.
- Benefits: Enjoy perks like discounts on travel, groceries, cinema tickets, and wellness classes.
- Why this job: Be part of a vibrant culture that values diversity and empowers your career growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in events management and strong people skills are essential.
- Other info: Full-time role based in Milton Keynes with a competitive salary.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Salary: £35000 – £45000 per annumShift hours: Full Time
Are you a passionate leader with a flair for delivering exceptional events and driving commercial success? Do you thrive managing high-performing teams in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment? If so, this could be your next exciting career move!
Join us as our Conference & Events Manager and take charge of a dynamic and highly trained team delivering outstanding conference and event experiences. You’ll be responsible for running a profitable and efficient operation that consistently exceeds client and customer expectations — all while championing Compass Group’s values and standards.
Salary: £35000 – £45000 per annum depending on experience
What You’ll Do:
-
Lead, inspire, and manage a dedicated team to deliver exceptional service across all conference and events activities.
-
Manage all commercial aspects of the business, ensuring growth, profitability, and excellent customer retention.
-
Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as a trusted partner and advocate for Compass Group.
-
Develop and execute strategies that maximise additional sales opportunities and enhance customer satisfaction.
-
Monitor budgets closely — from food and labour costs to overall event profitability — ensuring targets are met or exceeded.
-
Drive health & safety compliance, ensuring a safe environment for colleagues and customers alike.
-
Coach, train, and develop your team, fostering a positive, proactive culture focused on excellence and continuous improvement.
Lead, inspire, and manage a dedicated team to deliver exceptional service across all conference and events activities.
Manage all commercial aspects of the business, ensuring growth, profitability, and excellent customer retention.
Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as a trusted partner and advocate for Compass Group.
Develop and execute strategies that maximise additional sales opportunities and enhance customer satisfaction.
Monitor budgets closely — from food and labour costs to overall event profitability — ensuring targets are met or exceeded.
Drive health & safety compliance, ensuring a safe environment for colleagues and customers alike.
Coach, train, and develop your team, fostering a positive, proactive culture focused on excellence and continuous improvement.
What We’re Looking For:
-
Proven operational experience in the conference and events sector.
-
Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing budgets, labour costs, and sales targets.
-
Exceptional people management skills — able to motivate, coach, and develop a diverse team.
-
Excellent communication skills, adaptable to different audiences and situations.
-
A customer-first mindset, passionate about delivering outstanding service every time.
-
Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure, meeting tight deadlines with a cool head.
-
Computer literate with strong organisational abilities.
Proven operational experience in the conference and events sector.
Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing budgets, labour costs, and sales targets.
Exceptional people management skills — able to motivate, coach, and develop a diverse team.
Excellent communication skills, adaptable to different audiences and situations.
A customer-first mindset, passionate about delivering outstanding service every time.
Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure, meeting tight deadlines with a cool head.
Computer literate with strong organisational abilities.
Desirable :
-
HND/Degree in Management or relevant qualification.
-
Experience in event or banqueting environments.
-
Financial acumen and industry awareness.
We ensure you\’re rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:
- Contributory pension scheme
- Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
- Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
- Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury\’s, Morrisons and many more
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
- Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
- Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
- You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families
About Us
Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together.Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK\’s leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.
Job Reference: com/1108/41214001/52755583/SU #RA Group
Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive – because diversity is our strength!
Reference: com/1108/41214001/52755583/SULocation: Milton Keynes
Conference & Events Manager - Full Time - Milton Keynes employer: Compass Group
Contact Detail:
Compass Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Conference & Events Manager - Full Time - Milton Keynes
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the conference and events sector. Attend industry events or local meetups to connect with potential colleagues or mentors who can provide insights into the role and company culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Research Compass Group and their values thoroughly. Understanding their mission and how they operate will help you align your experience and skills with what they are looking for in a Conference & Events Manager.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed budgets and led teams in previous roles. Highlighting your commercial awareness and people management skills will set you apart during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your customer-first mindset by preparing anecdotes that demonstrate your commitment to exceptional service. This will resonate well with the hiring team, as they value a strong focus on client satisfaction.
We think you need these skills to ace Conference & Events Manager - Full Time - Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in the conference and events sector. Focus on your operational experience, people management skills, and any specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive commercial success.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for delivering exceptional events. Mention how your leadership style aligns with the company's values and how you can contribute to their success in managing high-performing teams.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, emphasise your strong commercial awareness, budget management experience, and ability to build client relationships. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've successfully managed events and exceeded customer expectations.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which are crucial in the events industry.
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Conference & Events Manager, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've inspired and managed teams in the past, focusing on your ability to motivate and develop others.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Be ready to discuss your experience with managing budgets and driving profitability. Highlight specific instances where you successfully met or exceeded financial targets in previous roles.
✨Emphasise Customer-Centric Mindset
Since the role requires a strong focus on customer satisfaction, prepare to share stories that illustrate your commitment to delivering exceptional service and building lasting client relationships.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle pressure and tight deadlines. Think of examples where you've successfully navigated challenging situations in event management, showcasing your problem-solving skills.